Saturday 26 May 2012

Racing Jones

Funny how these things go. You have a few okay days at the track and all of a sudden there's a lot more purpose. A race that I wouldnt have minded going to tomorrow became a logistical problem so next week at Fair Hill will be the next big one. Ride Sally Ride the day before. That will be an interesting one for me. With almost no exceptions (one Turkey Day on the old course being the only one I remember) I've sucked at egg shaped courses. Now, thanks to a few things, the question 'why bother' has turned into the statement 'let's see what we can do here'. That answer may be a result or it more likely would be a result for a team mate. One of my favorite races still is a Cat 4 race in which I made a huge difference in helping a team mate get a win, so something like that would be cool. And then win Fair Hill Sunday. Racing Expert after next week will be a big change. Longer, faster. Sport races this year have allowed me the chance to think while racing and construct and execute strategies rather than just pedal fast and hold on. I think I'll definitely spend some time back in pedal fast and hold on mode in expert, but the thought is to get to the front before too long. It's 40+, right? Sometimes/often you race against ridiculous speed guys but there isn't THAT much depth. A lot of the guys are just plain very good bike riders, with whom I should be able to ride once I adjust and improve a bit more. The funniest thing will be Wakefield Wednesday races. That start is absolute Kryptonite for me. Holy crap do I suck at it. Enjoy the weekend.

4 comments:

Mike. said...

So will you be racing expert at W@W? Good luck against that competition, those guys are animals. You need to be running at least a 16-min lap time to be up there.

Also, we are going back to the old finish line for the course (up by the I-495 ped bridge) so will have that short finish climb in there.

Dave K said...

Yeah, the open expert at Wakefield is stupid fast. Good thing I'm old and usually able to get there for the master's race! I can't picture where the old finish line climb. If you can get something done about the start? I freaking HATE that start. Kills my whole race.

Mike. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mike. said...

Oh, so you'll be in my field...there goes my podium spot...

NOBODY likes that start hill, but it is a good selector for proving who earned the hole shot. If you ever spectate a start from the open field, after the hole shot winners come through, it takes a good minute for the rest of the field to negotiate that downhill and the 1st stream crossing.

Old finish: instead of turning right into the open field finish like the last few years, bear left, take that stream crossing, the short power climb, follow the I-95 fence at the top, then drop into the finish by the pedestrian bridge...you will do that every lap.